AP - Humbled U.S. automakers pleaded with Congress Thursday for an expanded $34 billion rescue package, but heard fresh skepticism in a bumpy encore appearance.

AP - AT&T Inc. joined the recession's parade of layoffs Thursday by announcing plans to cut 12,000 jobs, about 4 percent of its work force.

Reuters - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Thursday urged more aggressive action to halt home foreclosures, and said write-downs of principal may need to be part those efforts.

Reuters - The chief executives of the major U.S. auto companies pledged to refocus on higher fuel efficiency and lower production costs as they asked Congress again on Thursday for billions of dollars in emergency cash.